Guessing Game Results: The Memo, Part 1

Last week, we asked for your guesses about the identities of the anonymous sources quoted in Jane Mayer's intriguing New Yorker article about Alberto J. Mora, the former general counsel of the U.S. Navy who took a stand against what he viewed as torture of detainees. We received some interesting speculation — some of which appears after the jump.

First we asked you about this item:

“[Alberto Mora] agreed to confirm the authenticity and accuracy of the memo and to be interviewed. A senior Defense Department official, whom the Bush Administration made available as a spokesman, on the condition that his name not be used, did so as well.”

A source proffers this analysis:

Mr. Mora was the Navy's GC, and officials who work for one of the Service Secretaries (e.g. Secretary of the Navy) would be described on background as a “Navy official” — not a “Defense official”. That is reserved for someone who works for SECDEF [Secretary of Defense]. “Senior” means the guy holds a job that requires Senate confirmation. Who would be in a position to confirm the memo? Could be the Department of Defense general counsel or deputy general counsel — but I bet the Department would shy away from having lawyers talk to the press. That is either going to be done by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England, or the Assistant SECDEF for Public Affairs, Dorrance Smith. Mr. Mora worked for Mr. England for a long time while England was Secretary of the Navy, the two are close, and the quote and article in general are favorable to Mr. Mora. Sounds to me like the quote came from a Mora friend, so I will guess Mr. England is the source.

Then we inquired into this source's identity:

“A former Administration official told me that [Donald] Rumsfeld was unconcerned [about the torture allegations]; he once more joked that he himself stood eight hours a day, and exclaimed, 'Torture? That’s not torture!' ('His attitude was “What’s the big deal?”' the former official said.)”

Hmm, we're a bit at a loss — as is our source, who punts as follows:

“A former administration official”… This could be anyone who used to work in DoD. I will guess Paul Wolfowitz because I am a dedicated neo-con who likes seeing the blogosphere explode at the mention of his name.

Well, that's as good a reason as any! We like seeing the blogosphere explode too.

(There's one outstanding item from the guessing game, which we'll be getting back to you about a little later. We may have some more solid information about it than the typical random speculation that we serve up around here.)

READ MORE: Defense Department, Department of Defense, alberto mora, anonymous sources, donald rumsfeld, dorrance smith, gordon england, jane mayer, new yorker, paul wolfowitz, senior administration official guessing game, torture